Amazon workers will be staging their first-ever strike
(Picture: Niall Carson / PA)Amazon workers are striking, with a third of the workforce due to walk out.
Three hundred workers at a warehouse in Coventry will walk out in protest, out of a workforce of 1,000, marking the first time UK employees of the e-commerce giant have taken industrial action.
The strike was called by the GMB union - a trade union that represents all workers with more than 460,000 members.
GMB senior organiser Stuart Richards said: “Today, Amazon workers in Coventry will make history.
“They’ve defied the odds to become the first-ever Amazon workers in the UK to go on strike. They’re taking on one of the world’s biggest companies to fight for a decent standard of living.
“After six months of ignoring all requests to listen to workers’ concerns, GMB urges Amazon UK bosses to do the right thing.”
Why are Amazon workers striking?
On Wednesday (January 25), Amazon workers will be staging the first-ever UK strike over pay disputes.
Workers have demanded better pay and are also protesting for better working conditions, as some declare robots are treated better than the staff.
Other issues have included stresses unique to their warehouses including repetitive labour to the computerised face-recognition surveillance and high injury rates at work.
Last August, Amazon offered workers a 50p per hour pay rise, but workers rejected this offer, which was equivalent to a five per cent increase - far below inflation.
One worker backing the strikes, Darren Westwood, said: “The original discontent started with the introduction of a 50p wage rise which was introduced. We expected a lot more.
“Everyone is aware of how much Amazon made during the pandemic - that was from us grafting. After the announcement, about 500 people walked off the floor and refused to go back to work.”
Big police presence and lots of security guards at both entrances of the Amazon warehouse. Workers being stopped for ID checks. One worker tells me he's never seen anything like it. pic.twitter.com/uJIZdGuIkw
— Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) January 25, 2023
How much do Amazon workers earn?
The ecommerce giant says their pay rates depend largely on location but the minimum a worker earns is between £10.50 and £11.45 per hour.
The unions are demanding a 29 per cent increase to the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon workers since 2018.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and we’re proud to offer competitive pay.
“Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands more - including private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals, and an employee discount, to name a few.”
Will Amazon deliveries be affected by this strike?
Amazon has stated that the strike will have “zero impact” on customers.
They added that normal operations will continue as, currently, the strike is only at the Coventry location, which is not a “fulfilment centre”.
